Howard County's Veterans Treatment Court, a certified problem-solving court in Superior Court II under Judge Blake N. Dahl, coordinated by Christine Oyler (765-614-3232), takes veterans and service members with a substance use disorder or a non-psychotic mental health condition related to service through a 12 to 36 month, four-phase programme with VA Veterans Justice Outreach, mentors and a court therapy dog; applicants pay programme fees and are barred by open warrants or prior convictions for rape, child molestation, murder or criminal confinement.
Also called: veterans treatment court, veterans court, problem solving court, IC 33-23-16, Superior Court II, Blake Dahl, Christine Oyler, Community Supervision, Veterans Justice Outreach, fund 9526, Kokomo, Greentown, Russiaville.
Indiana's veterans courts run under IC 33-23-16; see the Indiana entry. The Office of Court Services' October 2026 directory lists the Howard County Veterans Court under Hon. Blake N. Dahl, Howard Superior Court 2 (765-456-2201), with Christine Oyler as program director, 104 N. Buckeye, Room 10, Kokomo.
Mission. "It is the Mission of the Howard County Veterans Treatment Court Program to diminish the likelihood of repeated criminal activity associated with substance abuse and mental health concerns for the safety of the community and the strengthening of family values by promptly selecting and treating by intervention, education and referral, eligible veterans who have violated the criminal laws of the State of Indiana and are likely candidates for rehabilitation."
Who can apply. Community Supervision's page and the Problem Solving Court application: "Applicants must not have any open warrants, prior convictions for rape, child molestation, murder or criminal confinement. Applicants must serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces, be willing to comply with court ordered treatment, have the physical ability to participate, meet criteria for substance use disorder and/or a non-psychotic mental health disorder and have the ability to pay the program fees within the time frame of the program. The Veterans Treatment Court Program takes between 12 and 36 months to complete depending on performance." No discharge characterization is asked; the application asks branch, rank, entry and discharge dates and time served.
The phases. Phase 1: daily contact with the case manager, drug screens at least twice a week, self-help or mentoring meetings twice a week and weekly court; phase 2: case manager three times a week and court every two weeks; phase 3: weekly case manager contact and monthly court; phase 4: a reassessment, a three-month review and graduation after at least twelve months.
The team. Judge Blake Dahl; coordinator Christine Oyler (765-614-3232); Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator Jill Ertel (765-251-2565); the public defender Weston Nicholson and prosecutor Mark McCann; mentor coordinator Rodney Cox; service officer Dale Truax; case managers Christian Cline and Nolan Lowe (765-456-2224). The page lists the DAV chapter shuttle (765-674-3321) and Jackson Street Commons among its links.
Funding. The County Council appropriated $99,000 from the Veterans PSC Grant fund (9526) for 2026 on January 27, 2026, for the court's probation officer ($57,465 with benefits), drug screens, travel, incentives and "Therapy Dog Supplies/Services"; on May 4, 2026 the Commissioners recognized "Katie the Veterans Court Dog" for six years of service.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Howard County Veterans Treatment Court
Gate
Rule
Justice-involved veteran
The court is for a veteran with a pending eligible case who volunteers and is accepted. A disability rating is not the test.
Out of date, a broken link, or something else wrong? Say what you found, and an editor checks it against the official source.
Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.